AMERICA/BRAZIL - Week of prayer for Christian unity: building a culture of encounter, dialogue and fraternity

Brasilia (Agenzia Fides) - In Brazil and in many nations of the southern hemisphere, the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is celebrated between the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord and that of Pentecost. This year, therefore, it takes place from 16 to 23 May, on the theme: "Remain in my love and you will bear much fruit" (cf. Jn 15: 5-9). It is one of the major events that propose dialogue and prayer among the Christian Churches. The Week of Prayer Promoted each year by the National Council of Christian Churches (Conic) in collaboration with its member Churches, is an opportunity to deepen the links between the Churches and other institutions and people who strive to build a culture of encounter, acceptance, dialogue and fraternity. All Christian churches and people of good will are invited to participate. The note sent to Fides recalls that the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, in the decree Unitatis Redintegratio, declared "that it is aware that this holy purpose of reconciling all Christians in the unity of the same Church of Christ, exceeds the forces and human gifts. That is why he places all his hope in Christ's prayer for the Church, in the Father's love for us and in the power of the Holy Spirit" (UR n.24). The Deputy Undersecretary of the Pastoral Care of the Bishops' Conference of Brazil (CNBB), Father Marco Barbosa Guimarães, stresses that "when we pray for unity, we recognize that it is a gift of the Holy Spirit and not something that we can only achieve with our efforts". Year after year, Christian communities of different traditions have joined the celebrations proposed by the Week of Prayer, which reflects an ever greater understanding of Christ's message: "May they all be one". In the context of this year's Week of Prayer and the situation caused by the pandemic, there will be a live broadcast on Friday, May 21, at 5:00 p.m. (Brasilia time), on the theme "Formation for ecumenism and the Catholic-Pentecostal dialogue". The two documents "The Bishop and the Christian Unity - Ecumenical Vademecum" and "The Charisms in the Life and Mission of the Church" will be deepened in the virtual meeting that will be broadcast on the social networks of the Conic, of which the Catholic Church is a member. Several aids have been prepared by the Conic for the Week of Prayer 2021, which can be downloaded free of charge. (SL) (Agenzia Fides, 18/5/2021)

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